By PJ Richter – Incipio Workforce Solutions
Before getting involved in the Workforce Readiness Program, I spent years working in staffing and workforce development. I understood recruiting, hiring, and helping companies fill positions, but I knew I wanted work that felt more meaningful long term. I wanted to make a real difference in people’s lives.
At Incipio Workforce Solutions, our Director of Client Experience, Dana, knew I had always been drawn to community-focused work and nonprofit involvement. I had previously volunteered with organizations like Dress for Success, and helping people rebuild confidence and independence was something I cared deeply about. When Incipio partnered with The Healing Place to create the Workforce Readiness Program, she brought the opportunity to me.
It immediately felt personal.
Someone very close to me struggled with addiction, and walking through that experience changed the way I viewed recovery, support, and people trying to rebuild their lives. It made me more understanding of how difficult life can become and showed me how important encouragement, opportunity, and second chances truly are.
Being part of a program that combined workforce development with community impact felt like exactly where I was supposed to be.
More Than Just Employment
The Work Ready Program is about far more than helping someone find a job. It is about helping people rebuild confidence, regain stability, and believe in themselves again.
Created by Incipio in partnership with The Healing Place, the program helps participants develop workforce-readiness skills through resume development, interview preparation, communication coaching, workplace-readiness training, and confidence-building.
Many participants come into the program carrying years of self-doubt, instability, or disconnection. Some are rebuilding after addiction, homelessness, military transition, or significant personal hardship. Others simply need support in one specific area, which is why we also offer workshops focused on resumes, credit reports, and career preparation.
At the center of all of it is support.
People need structure, encouragement, and opportunities to move forward.
Confidence Is Often the Biggest Barrier
When most people think about barriers to employment, they think about transportation, education, or employment gaps. Those challenges are real, but in my experience, confidence is often the biggest obstacle.
Many people enter the program feeling defeated. Over time, some begin to believe they are no longer capable of success or are disconnected from society altogether.
That is why confidence-building is such a critical part of the program.
Sometimes people simply need someone to believe in them before they can believe in themselves.
You can watch the transformation happen gradually. At first, someone may avoid speaking in front of the class or participating in conversations. Then, little by little, they begin to open up, encourage others, and carry themselves differently. You start to see hope return.
Breaking the Misconceptions
One thing I wish more people understood is that individuals in recovery genuinely want to work and succeed. There is still a misconception that they are unreliable or unmotivated, but that has not been my experience at all.
Their past does not define who they are.
Most of the people we work with are incredibly driven. They want stability, purpose, and the opportunity to feel proud of themselves again. When given support and opportunity, many become some of the hardest-working and most dependable people you will meet.
That sense of accomplishment when someone succeeds in an interview or gets a job can completely change how they see themselves.
It gives them hope again.
Watching People Transform
One of the most rewarding parts of this work is witnessing people rediscover their confidence.
You see individuals arrive carrying shame, fear, and uncertainty. Then over time, they begin speaking differently, engaging more confidently, and believing they have value again.
The peer support inside the program is also powerful. Participants encourage each other because they understand what it feels like to struggle. They celebrate one another’s victories and support each other through setbacks.
Countless moments stay with me. Some participants enter the program feeling completely alone. Being able to support someone during one of the hardest periods of their life and help them realize they still matter is something I will never take for granted.
Watching people grow gives me hope every day.
Why Nonprofits Matter
Nonprofits play an essential role in creating opportunities that many people would not otherwise have access to.
Organizations like The Healing Place provide support for individuals facing addiction, homelessness, and other major life challenges. These organizations create pathways for healing, growth, and long-term change.
Without nonprofits, many people would never receive that second chance.
People also underestimate how much work happens behind the scenes. The individuals working in these organizations genuinely care about helping people rebuild their lives and strengthening communities in the process.
When people are supported, communities become stronger too.
Why Businesses and Nonprofits Need Each Other
One of the biggest lessons I have learned through this work is that businesses and nonprofits need each other to create lasting change.
At Incipio Workforce Solutions, we created the program because we recognized the importance of combining workforce development with community support. Programs like this help people rebuild confidence and prepare for employment, but businesses provide the opportunities that allow individuals to move forward.
The strongest partnerships happen when both sides genuinely care about the same mission.
Businesses that support workforce development and fair-chance hiring can change someone’s life. At the same time, nonprofits help connect employers with hardworking individuals who simply need an opportunity.
Communities become stronger when businesses and nonprofits stop operating separately and start working together toward shared goals.
Leadership Means Showing Up
This experience has also changed the way I think about leadership.
Leadership is not about titles. It is about showing up for people, encouraging them, and helping them recognize their own potential.
Success looks different for everyone. For some, success is getting a job. For others, it is speaking confidently in front of a group for the first time. Every step forward matters.
We often underestimate how powerful encouragement and kindness can be.
What Gives Me Hope
What gives me hope is seeing transformation happen every day.
I have watched people come into the program feeling hopeless and leave with confidence, goals, and excitement for their future. Seeing someone realize they are capable of more than they believed is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.
For anyone wanting to support nonprofits or workforce development programs, my advice is simple:
Get involved.
Volunteer.
Mentor someone.
Spread awareness.
Encourage people, rather than tearing them down.
Even small acts of kindness can make a tremendous difference for someone trying to rebuild their life.
At the end of the day, I hope people remember this:
Everyone deserves a second chance.
People can change. Lives can change. But support, opportunity, and encouragement make all the difference.